World Bioregions/BiomesGRADE 8/10 Biome -- a grouping of the world’s flora and fauna into a large ecological province or region; also referred to as bioregion What is flora? plant or bacterial life; such life characteristic of a region, period, or special environmentl What is fauna? animal life; the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special
Biome
Basic Description
Types of flora
Types of Fauna
World Location
1)Forests-
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A) Rain Forest
Two types- tropical and temperate a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth.
Flora is highly diverse
great variety of animals (Figure 9k-13). Some scientists believe that 30 to 50% of all of the Earth's animal species may be found in this biome.
Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
B) Broadleaf /mixed broadleaf &coniferous
Forests of mostly evergreen trees with long, snowy winters and warm, humid summers.
mostly conifers
moose, bear, deer, wolverine, marten, wolf, hares, chipmunks, shrews, squirrels and bats, reptiles are rare because of cold temperatures
Canada, Europe, Asia, USA
C) Coniferous (Taiga)
Moist, cool-cold, more precipitation than Tundra
needle-leaf evergreen trees
moose, bear, deer, wolverine, marten, lynx, wolf, snowshoe hare, vole, chipmunks, shrews, and bats, reptiles are rare because of cold temperatures
between the 45th and 57th North latitudes
2) Mediterranean woodland, shrub & grassland
shrubs and small trees. many thrive on steep, rocky slopes. usually not enough rain to support tall trees
grasslands are flat areas of grass
maritime prime, acacia, cork oak
most of the animals are small and/or nocturnal
western coastal regions between 30 and 40 degrees north latitude
sometimes found in southern california
3) Tropical Savanna, mixed grassland & woodland
Grasslands with trees less than 10 meters in height, distinct wet and dry seasons, hot all year long
Drought-resistant trees
diverse group of grazing animals
eastern Africa, South America, and Australia
4) Prairie & steppe grassland
open and continuous flat areas of grass
mostly grass, a few trees
small burrowing herbivores
North America, South America, South Africa, central Eurasia, Australia
5) Desert shrub
dry, extremely little precipitation, temperature changes drastically
Shrubs, cacti, small bushes, short grasses
tend to be nocturnal, snakes and lizards
between 15-35 degrees latitude
6)Tundra (Alpine)-
temperature, precipitation, and evaporation all tend to be at a minimum. Most tundra locations, have summer months with an average temperature below 10° Celsius. Precipitation in the wettest month is normally no higher that 25 millimeters
Some herbivores and carnivores, little or no amphibian, birds migrate
poleward of 60° North latitude
Fauna
animal life; the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment Flora
plant or bacterial life; such life characteristic of a region, period, or special environment Arctic and Alpine Tundra Tundra means marshy plain. The geographical distribution of the tundra biome is largely poleward of 60° North latitude. The tundra biome is characterized by an absence of trees, the presence of dwarf plants, and a ground surface that is wet, spongy, and hummocky. Soils of this biome are usually permanently frozen (permafrost) starting at a depth of a few centimeters to meter or more. The permafrost line is a physical barrier to plant root growth.
Within this biome, temperature, precipitation, and evaporation all tend to be at a minimum. Most tundra locations, have summer months with an average temperature below 10° Celsius. Precipitation in the wettest month is normally no higher that 25 millimeters. However, despite the low levels of precipitation the ground surface of the tundra biome is often waterlogged because of low rates of evapotranspiration.
The species**diversity** of tundra vegetation is relatively small. Plant communities are usually composed of a few species of dwarf shrubs, a few grass species, sedges, and mosses. Perhaps the most characteristic arctic tundra plants are lichens like Reindeer Moss (Cladonia spp.). The principal herbivores in this biome include caribou, musk ox, arctic hare, voles, and lemmings. Most of the bird species of the tundra have the ability to migrate and live in warmer locations during the cold winter months. The herbivore species support a small number of carnivore species like the arctic fox, snow owl, polar bear, and wolves. Reptiles and amphibians are few or completely absent because of the extremely cold temperatures.
Alpine tundra is quite similar to some arctic tundra but differs in the absence of permafrost and in the presence of better drainage._ Mediterranean woodland, shrub, and grassland
located in the western coastal regions between 30 and 40 degrees north latitude
sometimes found in southern california
description - shurblands are made up of shrubs and small trees. many thrive on steep, rocky slopes. usually not enough rain to support tall trees
grasslands are flat areas of grass
the tall grass prairie toward the east and the short grass prairie westward. In Europe and Asia some grasslands are called Steppes. In South America, grasslands are known as Pampas.
Rainforest
The tropical rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth. Desert In its most typical form, the desert consists of shrub covered land where the plants are spatially quite dispersed. In general, the major desert biomes of the Earth are geographically found at between 25 to 40° North and South latitude, in the interiors of continents. Climatically, deserts are influenced by descending air currents which limit the formation of precipitation. Many desert areas have less than 250 millimeters of precipitation annually. Dominant plants include drought resistant shrubs like the Creosote Bush (Larreadivaricata) and Sagebrush (Artemisiatridentata), water storing succulents like cactus (Figure 9k-6), and many species are short lived annuals that complete their life cycles during infrequent and short rainy periods. Desert habitats can be devoid of vegetation if precipitation is in very short supply
_
Tropical Savanna
Tropical savannas are grasslands with scattered drought-resistant trees that generally do not exceed 10 meters in height (Figure 9k-9). Tree and shrub species in the savanna usually shed their leaves during the dry season. This adaptation reduces water loss from the plants. New leaves appear several weeks before the start of the rain season. Scientists believe that savanna plant species may have developed this strategy to take advantage of the season variance of the start of the rains. Climatically, these biomes are characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperatures are hot all year long.
tropical rainforest- Flora is highly diverse: a square kilometer may contain as many as 100 different tree species as compared to 3 or 4 in the temperate zone
Tropical savannas are grasslands with scattered drought-resistant trees that generally do not exceed 10 meters in height (Figure 9k-9). Tree and shrub species in the savanna usually shed their leaves during the dry seasonClimatically, these biomes are characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperatures are hot all year long.
World Bioregions/Biomes GRADE 8/10
Biome -- a grouping of the world’s flora and fauna into a large ecological province or region; also referred to as bioregion
What is flora? plant or bacterial life; such life characteristic of a region, period, or special environmentl
What is fauna? animal life; the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special
a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth.
grasslands are flat areas of grass
sometimes found in southern california
Fauna
animal life; the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
Flora
plant or bacterial life; such life characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
Arctic and Alpine Tundra
Tundra means marshy plain. The geographical distribution of the tundra biome is largely poleward of 60° North latitude. The tundra biome is characterized by an absence of trees, the presence of dwarf plants, and a ground surface that is wet, spongy, and hummocky. Soils of this biome are usually permanently frozen (permafrost) starting at a depth of a few centimeters to meter or more. The permafrost line is a physical barrier to plant root growth.
Within this biome, temperature, precipitation, and evaporation all tend to be at a minimum. Most tundra locations, have summer months with an average temperature below 10° Celsius. Precipitation in the wettest month is normally no higher that 25 millimeters. However, despite the low levels of precipitation the ground surface of the tundra biome is often waterlogged because of low rates of evapotranspiration.
The species **diversity** of tundra vegetation is relatively small. Plant communities are usually composed of a few species of dwarf shrubs, a few grass species, sedges, and mosses. Perhaps the most characteristic arctic tundra plants are lichens like Reindeer Moss (Cladonia spp.). The principal herbivores in this biome include caribou, musk ox, arctic hare, voles, and lemmings. Most of the bird species of the tundra have the ability to migrate and live in warmer locations during the cold winter months. The herbivore species support a small number of carnivore species like the arctic fox, snow owl, polar bear, and wolves. Reptiles and amphibians are few or completely absent because of the extremely cold temperatures.
Alpine tundra is quite similar to some arctic tundra but differs in the absence of permafrost and in the presence of better drainage._
Mediterranean woodland, shrub, and grassland
located in the western coastal regions between 30 and 40 degrees north latitude
sometimes found in southern california
description - shurblands are made up of shrubs and small trees. many thrive on steep, rocky slopes. usually not enough rain to support tall trees
grasslands are flat areas of grass
the tall grass prairie toward the east and the short grass prairie westward. In Europe and Asia some grasslands are called Steppes. In South America, grasslands are known as Pampas.
Rainforest
The tropical rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth.
Desert
In its most typical form, the desert consists of shrub covered land where the plants are spatially quite dispersed. In general, the major desert biomes of the Earth are geographically found at between 25 to 40° North and South latitude, in the interiors of continents. Climatically, deserts are influenced by descending air currents which limit the formation of precipitation. Many desert areas have less than 250 millimeters of precipitation annually. Dominant plants include drought resistant shrubs like the Creosote Bush (Larrea divaricata) and Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), water storing succulents like cactus (Figure 9k-6), and many species are short lived annuals that complete their life cycles during infrequent and short rainy periods. Desert habitats can be devoid of vegetation if precipitation is in very short supply
_
Tropical Savanna
Tropical savannas are grasslands with scattered drought-resistant trees that generally do not exceed 10 meters in height (Figure 9k-9). Tree and shrub species in the savanna usually shed their leaves during the dry season. This adaptation reduces water loss from the plants. New leaves appear several weeks before the start of the rain season. Scientists believe that savanna plant species may have developed this strategy to take advantage of the season variance of the start of the rains. Climatically, these biomes are characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperatures are hot all year long.
tropical rainforest- Flora is highly diverse: a square kilometer may contain as many as 100 different tree species as compared to 3 or 4 in the temperate zone
Tropical savannas are grasslands with scattered drought-resistant trees that generally do not exceed 10 meters in height (Figure 9k-9). Tree and shrub species in the savanna usually shed their leaves during the dry seasonClimatically, these biomes are characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperatures are hot all year long.